Saquon Barkley Needs 268 Yards to Break NFL’s Single-Season Rushing Record; Eric Dickerson Hopes Numbers Remain Unbroken
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back, requires 268 yards rushing in his final two games to become the NFL’s new single-season rushing champion. Eric Dickerson, the current record holder, is hoping Barkley misses the mark.
After being signed by the Eagles to a three-year deal, Barkley has proven to be the best signing of the offseason, averaging 122.5 rushing yards per game and taking the team to new heights. To break the record, Barkley would need to average 134 yards per game, a number he has achieved six times this season.
Eric Dickerson set the record of 2,105 yards in 1984, and the Los Angeles Rams legend admits he wants to remain the king. “I don’t think he’ll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not,” Dickerson said. “I don’t pull no punches on that.”
Dickerson set the record in 16 games, and Barkley has an extra contest to break the record. However, Dickerson doesn’t mind, stating, “I’m not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That’s the way I look at it. If he’s fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it’s a great record to have.”
Barkley’s next chance to break the record may come against his former team, which Dickerson believes would be “a true slap in the face.” Barkley is on pace to become the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and the other eight all achieved the feat in 16-game seasons.